On the Friday before Mothers Day alone, MasterCard says, its network of U.S. florists takes in $20 million from consumers buying flowers. That makes mom's big day also a big day for florists -- they do 35% more business that Friday compared with any other day of the year.

Maybe or maybe not, but one thing's for sure: Mothers are far more likely than fathers to give you an opinion on your spending habits -- on Mothers Day and every other day of the year, apparently.

That's a primary conclusion drawn from Fidelity Investment's most recent Intra-Family Generational Finance Study, released Wednesday. The study, the third installment in a series from the Boston mutual fund firm, focuses on the differences and similarities among family members on personal financial matters.

Fidelity says mothers are more natural "empathizers" than fathers on money matters, which makes it easier for children to discuss their finances. As a result:

More mothers than fathers (79% to 69%) have had "comprehensive" dialogue about estate planning and wills with their adult children.

More mothers than fathers (66% to 56%) discussed elderly care and disability insurance with their adult children.

More mothers than fathers (70% to 55%) asked their adult offspring about covering living expenses in retirement.

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Also, dads don't always look at their kids as a source of financial help in their old age -- only 3% of dads say their kids should help with medical bills and adult medical care in their old age (compared with 13% of moms.)

And significantly more fathers say they depend on their spouses for financial support when they grow older and become ill than they do their children. Fidelity says moms may be more concerned over their children's financial situation than their own money picture -- an unhealthy view, according to U.S. fathers.

To bridge that gap, Fidelity says adult children should talk to both parents -- but at least one right away, to get the ball rolling. No family wants any big, negative financial surprises coming down the pike, so the more robust the dialogue the better.